SAWS approves 8.4% rate increase

The board of the San Antonio Water System voted for an 8.4 percent rate increase Tuesday to pay for more inspections, cleaning and replacement of sewer lines and additional water supplies.

The increase would raise the average monthly SAWS bill, for 7,788 gallons of water and 6,178 gallons of wastewater, from $49.72 to $53.22.

If approved by the City Council at its Feb. 7 meeting, the higher rates would take effect in March.

The new rate is lower than the 11.3 percent increase SAWS originally proposed to the council and presented at more than 40 public meetings this fall.

SAWS Chief Financial Officer Doug Evanson told the board that the lower rate increase was possible because of lower interest rates and more customers than expected when the budget was originally drafted this summer.